Ricci Rivero will have to wait for his professional basketball debut as Taoyuan Pilots releases him ahead of their season debut.
Just a week before the start of the 2022-2023 season of Taiwan's P. League+, the Taoyuan Pilots announced that the team will be releasing Ricci Rivero after agreeing to a mutual contract termination on Friday, November 4.
Rivero’s professional basketball debut will then have to wait longer as an unspecified injury is unfortunately holding back the import.
“Taoyuan Pauian Pilot announced today that with mutual consent, the contract between Pilots and Ricci Rivero is terminated. GM Sean Chen it was a hard decision. He considers Ricci a very skilled player with a great attitude,” the team wrote on their official Instagram page.
“Ricci joined the team in September. His past injury [made] him unable to show his best performance during training and preseason games. Wishing you the best Ricci! Good luck,” the statement concluded.
The 6-foot-1 guard was bound to be the first Filipino to suit up in the Taiwan league after flying to the country last September but ended up playing in just one preseason game, registering nine points and eight assists against the Formosa Taishin Dreamers.
Rivero decided to let go of his collegiate career after a historic run with the University of the Philippines, helping the university clinch their first UAAP title since 1986, dethroning the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
The athletic guard was posting norms of 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game in the elimination round of UP’s championship season.
Before transferring to the state university, Rivero has also won a championship with the DLSU Green Archers in 2016 under the tutelage of Aldin Ayo.
The P. League+ is set to open its brand new season tomorrow, while Taoyuan’s season begins on Saturday, November 12 with a match against the New Taipei Kings that would start a five-game road trip.
Tags: #basketball, #Taiwan, #professionalleague